We recommend: The best new movies and TV series
Locked: Bill Skarsgard and Sir Anthony Hopkins star in this action thriller about a car thief named Eddie (Skarsgard) who breaks into a luxury SUV owned by William (Hopkins). The problem is William is a vigilante who has heavily modified his SUV and is intent on teaching Eddie about consequences, leaving Eddie locked in and at William’s mercy. It’s a remake of the 2019 Argentinian film ‘4x4’—there’s also a Telugu version titled ‘Dongalunnaru Jaagratha’.
Reviews are positive. Collider says that Locked is a "pretty terrific slice of vigilante justice" that feels like a "headlong collision between Phone Booth and Saw." Whereas, Hollywood Reporter comments the movie is a "silly but arresting" thriller where a car thief is trapped in an "impenetrable torture device on wheels" by Anthony Hopkins’ "purring psychopathic" vigilante. Our take: Yes it’s a silly premise but we are into it as the star cast leaves us very curious. Watch it in cinemas now!
Good American Family: The series is based on the IRL curious case of Natalia Grace which has eerie similarities to the psychological horror ‘Orphaned’—which btw was released a decade before the case. The story follows Indiana couple Kristine Elizabeth Barnett and Michael Barnett—played by Ellen Pompeo of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ fame and Mark Duplass—who adopt a Ukrainian girl named Natalia Grace who turns out to be older than what she seems and violent. And yes, the timing of the series may be a little questionable given the Russia-Ukraine war situation and Trump—the good American—trying to broker peace.
Reviews are mixed. The Guardian writes: “It’s part thriller and satire but mostly a crime drama and there’s a simple pull to its he-said-she-said storytelling, propelling one quite easily into watching the next episode.” OTOH, Variety says: “Even as the whole disappoints, however, “Good American Family” stands out in parts.” Our take: We think true crime junkies would enjoy this one. You can watch it on Disney+ Hotstar.
The Residence: Another one of the hilarious whodunnits. This Shonda Rhimes-produced show is set during a White House dinner and features eccentric detective Cordelia Cupp and her sidekick FBI agent Edwin Park. It stars Uzo Aduba (best known for ‘Orange is the New Black’), Giancarlo Esposito (best known for his role in ‘Breaking Bad’, villain in ‘The Boys’, etc), and comedian-actor Randall Park.
Reviews are decent for the show. Hollywood Reporter “found it both amusing and exhausting”. The Guardian is of the view that “‘The Residence’ is a gorgeous, gleeful romp” that “is going to give you eight hours of fantastic escape.” Our take: You know us, we can never say no to a whodunnit. Stream it on Netflix.
Loot Kaand: Tanya Maniktala and Sahil Mehta star in this six-episode heist series about siblings who become bank robbers in Purulia, West Bengal—after acquiring weapons from a botched arms drop. Also starring: Gyanendra Tripathi as a deductive school teacher, Brij Bhushan Shukla and Ronjini Chakraborty as a local gangster couple, and Nitin NS Goel and Prashansa Sharma as police officers
Reviews are mixed. Scroll says the series is a "shamelessly convoluted, superbusy" effort that "merrily gallops from one twist to the next," tying the 1995 Purulia arms drop to a sibling-led bank robbery spree. Firstpost OTOH comments the series is a "story of desperation and disasters" that swings between "chaos and cacophony with earthy humour," delivering a satisfying but not entirely memorable heist drama. Our take: This flavour of crime drama is mostly turn-off-your-brain fun without any serious nuance. You can watch it on Amazon MXPlayer.
Fresh off the big screen…
Anora: The Oscar-winning movie is finally on a streaming platform! The story follows a 23-year-old New York stripper Anora who meets Ivan, a 21-year-old son of the Russian oligarch. They fall in love and get married but that doesn’t sit right with his very powerful parents who torture her by sending thugs to their house. When Ivan goes missing, Anora is recruited by his parents to find him. The film is helmed by indie filmmaker Sean Baker and headlined by Mikey Madison. The movie is streaming on JioHotstar.
Dragon: ‘Dragon’ follows Ragavan (Pradeep Ranganathan), a gold medallist whose life takes a dark turn after heartbreak. Once a model student, he becomes a rebellious college dropout, drawn into scams and deception. His former love, Keerthy (Anupama Parameswaran), grapples with guilt, while his fiancée, Pallavi (Kayadu Lohar), stands by her values. His mother (Indumathi Manikandan) bears the weight of his downfall, while his father (George Maryan) offers quiet support. The college principal (Mysskin) adds a voice of reason. As Ragavan’s choices spiral, those around him shape his journey of turmoil and redemption. Catch the release on Netflix.
Also in theatres…
Snow White - In Disney's live-action Snow White, the timeless fairytale gets a modern twist. Snow White (Rachel Zegler) dreams of more than just a prince—she wants to restore hope and compassion to her kingdom. After her kind-hearted father falls for a vain and wicked queen (Gal Gadot), Snow White is reduced to servitude in her own castle. When the jealous queen orders her death, Snow White flees into the forest, where she finds refuge with a group of spirited miners. With the help of her new friends and a daring rebel leader, she fights to reclaim her rightful place.
Reviews are not so great. The Guardian says, “This fudged, pseudo-progressive approach is so tiring you’ll want to put your head in your hands.” According to Empire: “the film feels compromised and so small; like it’s been Frankensteined into submission in the edit and cut and recut 100 times.” Our take: We’re only interested in Zegler—there’s little reason to go watch this in theatres.
